Patient's question:
I've had my baby for over a month now, and I've been experiencing chest pain when I nap in certain positions. Upon closer observation, I noticed that the pain is concentrated at the base of my right breast, which is closest to my chest. It doesn't hurt when I don't press it, but it becomes very painful when I do. My right breast is noticeably firmer than my left one. The milk supply isn't very high, but it's just enough to feed the baby. What could be going on?Doctor's answer:
You've had your baby for over a month now. When you take a nap, a certain sleeping position causes pain in your chest, and there's also pain at the base of your right breast, which might be due to blocked milk ducts.Here are some suggestions: On one hand, avoid sleeping on your breasts when you nap. On the other hand, encourage the baby to nurse more. If the baby can't nurse effectively, an adult can help, or you can seek the assistance of a lactation specialist to relieve the pain and prevent mastitis. When breastfeeding, make sure to nurse from one side first before moving to the other. If there's leftover milk, use a breast pump to extract it.